Portland Fire ended their losing streak with a commanding 97-83 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Thursday night. The win snapped a five-game skid for Portland and was fueled by a standout performance from Carla Leite, who contributed 27 points and 11 assists.
The game remained tightly contested after the first quarter, with the Fire holding a narrow 25-23 lead. However, a three-pointer from Frieda Buhner early in the second quarter helped Portland build a double-digit advantage. Leite then extended the lead to 51-37 with a late jumper before halftime. By the end of the third quarter, the Fire had pushed their advantage further to 81-59, setting the stage for their eventual comfortable win.
Leite was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts, while Megan DiLeo added 17 points. Coming off the bench, Buhner also chipped in with 10 points, contributing valuable depth to the Portland roster.
Toronto Tempo Struggle Continues with Eighth Consecutive Loss
Despite the defeat, the Toronto Tempo saw solid individual efforts. Bridget Carleton grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 10 points, while Julie Allemand orchestrated the Tempo’s offense with 11 points and 12 assists. Leading Toronto’s scoring was Nyara Sabally with 17 points.
Nevertheless, Toronto’s struggles persist as this loss marked their 12th defeat in the last 13 games, deepening their current slump.
Looking ahead, Portland will host the Seattle Storm on Saturday at 8:30 PM ET, with the game airing on NBA TV. Toronto is set to face the Atlanta Dream on Monday at 8 PM ET, with coverage available on Peacock.